In this episode of our Legacy Bench 1-to-1 series, we sit down with Carl Zhang, a young visionary who’s carving out a unique lane in the global creator economy.

Carl’s energy is instantly noticeable — curious, warm, and driven by a genuine love for creativity. He’s not just building a business; he’s building a bridge between two massive digital worlds: China and the UK.

What Carl Is Building

Carl is developing a cross-border MCN — a system that helps Chinese creators break into the UK market and, simultaneously, helps British creators reach an enormous audience in China.

In the conversation, he breaks down his approach:

• Repurposing Chinese content with English subtitles, editing, and voiceovers
• Launching and managing entirely new UK-facing accounts
• Optimising UK creators for Chinese platforms like Douyin
• Connecting creators with Chinese brand deals
• Helping beginners become creators with full account management

It’s a fresh perspective — one that combines cultural understanding, digital strategy, and creator psychology.

Where His Passion Comes From

Carl opens up about what really motivates him. Instead of chasing viral success, he talks about the power of:

• expressive storytelling
• trying things for fun
• documenting meaningful experiences
• staying passionate rather than performative

He credits his biggest inspiration to the Chinese duo NiDa, whose low-budget but joyful videos taught him that creativity doesn’t need to be complicated.

The Personal Side of Carl

In the 1-to-1 conversation, Carl reflects on:

• being a student building a business plan from the ground up
• wanting to live a life that matters
• finding purpose in exploration and adventure
• overcoming the belief that he should “wait until he’s older” to start

His honesty and enthusiasm make this episode both refreshing and deeply insightful for anyone exploring the creator world.

What He Hopes to Gain

Carl joined Legacy Bench to find:

• investor connections
• business direction
• clarity around his next steps
• partnerships
• and a community that gets his vision

And after hearing him speak, it’s clear: this idea has real potential.